Neil Blanchard

Area of expertise:

Neil originally qualified as a chartered surveyor and worked for a number of years in commercial property development and management. He has been the Chief Executive at Southdown Housing Association since 2014, previously having worked for the organisation in senior management roles since 2001. Southdown is a not-for-profit Sussex based organisation that supports over 10,000 vulnerable clients each year to overcome situations that are placing their health, housing and wellbeing at risk.

In addition to his role within Southdown he is committed taking an active role to help shape and influence the wider social care sector. He is a member of the National Housing Federation’s Health and Housing group which supports the development of new policy ideas across health, care and support. At a local level he participates in a range of networks and working groups as part of the integration of health and social care services, including acting as a representative on the Sussex and East Surrey NHS Sustainability and Transformation Partnership’s (STP) Engagement and Equalities Reference Group. The group provides oversight, assurance, advice and positive challenge to ensure that patients’ and carers’ views are adequately taken into account in governance and decision making processes.

In the 1990s Neil worked for ten years in a voluntary capacity as a befriender and volunteer trainer supporting people with HIV and Aids. Through this experience he develop a strong commitment to advocate on behalf of excellent end of life care, and is looking forward to continuing this work at St Barnabas Hospices